| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑09‑11 | 192 | 623 | Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany |
| Primary Targets Spared By Weather: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high section of the 41st A Combat Bombardment Wing (41A Group) and as the high section of the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing (41B Group) on this mission. The primary target for the 41A Group, Lützkendorf oil installations in Germany, were obscured by a solid undercast, as was the secondary and an airfield near Giessen. Finally, a successful visual attack was accomplished on an unidentified factory in the Friedberg, Germany, area. This group saw several Me-163 'Komet' rocket-powered aircraft in the vicinity of Leipzig, and one near the Belgian coast, but they were not attacked. The 41B Group primary target, oil installations in the Merseburg, Germany, area was obscured by weather conditions. The formation then proceeded to the secondary target. Although the rest of the formation broke off the attack, the 384th pressed on and were able to drop their bombs in the vicinity of the target, although results were deemed 'poor.' This group was attacked by a single ME163 'Komet' rocket-powered aircraft, which made two passes on his formation (the high and low squadrons), in the vicinity of the primary target. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: 41B Group. The #2 regulator went out and the prop would not feather. It started vibrating badly and became detached from the engine, striking the side of the Navigator/Bombardier compartment and finally lodging in the wing as shown in the attached photographs. The Pilot slowed to 100MPH and landed at home base about one-and-one-half hours after the rest of the Group. |
Other (Visual) Target: Factories Type: Industry Location: Friedburg & Eisenach, Germany |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑102566 ⇗ | 545th | JD*M | NINA |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Farra, Robert Leslie⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | O'Donnell, Phillip John⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Richardson, Frederick Madison⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Hannan, John Michael⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Schwartzly, Anthony Joseph⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | McGee, Earl Thomas⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Henderson, Clinton Lee⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Rothschild, Theodore (NMI)⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Freitas, Lawrence Ernest⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| Photo | 1944-09-11, Nina, Detached Propellor⇗ |
| Photo | 1944-09-11, Nina, Detached Propellor⇗ |